The park service is starting a permit system for Half Dome.
Full details at: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm
Half Dome Permits
Permits to hike to the top of Half Dome are now required on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays when the cables are up. This is an interim measure to increase safety along the cables while the park develops a long-term plan to manage use on the Half Dome Trail.
Beginning in 2010, all people using the Half Dome Trail above the subdome must have a permit in possession on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holidays when the cables are up. A maximum of 400 permits will be issued each of these days. (Before the permit system, fewer than 400 people used this trail on weekdays, while about 800 people used this trail on weekends and holidays, on average.)
Permits required for Half Dome
Quotas in effect Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, limit 300 day hikers (available ONLY online) and 100 backpackers.
More at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/u ... gement.pdf .
More at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/u ... gement.pdf .
it's a double edged sword. you hate to see regulation put into effect on a trail, but then again i HATE to see the traffic jam photos of people on the cables. seeing those images, one knew that this regulation was inevitable.
personally i have never been stuck in a jam on the cables, but i always get up and down very early and have thankfully avoided them. starting before daybreak is the key; less people and better weather.
personally i have never been stuck in a jam on the cables, but i always get up and down very early and have thankfully avoided them. starting before daybreak is the key; less people and better weather.
I've never done it and it's kinda on my list for this year.
I really have aversions to permit systems.
Especially ones like this that are "emregency" in nature. This one is already a 2 year scheduled emergency with no public input.
Since they are going to monitor and are starting at 400; I'll say no way the approved process goes above 300 a day - they just won't have data.
We'll see how it goes.
I really have aversions to permit systems.
Especially ones like this that are "emregency" in nature. This one is already a 2 year scheduled emergency with no public input.
Since they are going to monitor and are starting at 400; I'll say no way the approved process goes above 300 a day - they just won't have data.
We'll see how it goes.